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The third Sunday of January is something I always look forward to. That’s the date of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. This was the fifth year in a row that I have competed in the half-marathon; the first was way back in 2010, without any training (not highly recommended though), I walked the entire 21 km course and finished in close to three and a half hours. Since then, I have always known that I would finish the course – the focus was on improving my time.
Every time July comes along, I think I should start training for the big day. A couple of years I actually did, but just by going for a regular jog – not training with any support group or with a particular program in mind. The last couple of years I have been lazy to do so with work, studies and other interests taking priority over my preparation. But irrespective, my motivation remains undiminished.
The timing cut-off in the open general category has gotten stricter over time. Until last year, anyone with a timing of <3 hours in any certified half-marathon in the last two years would qualify in the open category. This year, the organizers opted to make the timing cut-off age specific. Without getting into my age and timing, let’s just say I didn’t make the cut-off for automatic entry, which meant I would have to run the race through an NGO.
I signed up to run for the Welfare of Stray Dogs, an NGO that many of my friends are closely associated with at seven times the cost an open runner would have paid. You would think that would be motivation enough for me to train for the race. Think Again!!
Come racing weekend, I go through my usual build-up. Load up on carbs and hydrate myself well the week before, keep off my feet as much as possible the day before and get enough sleep the night before.
With the half-marathon starting at 6 AM from Bandra, I reach the starting point a good 30 minutes prior and try to find my friends who are also running the race. Four of my friends are running with me this time (two guys and two girls); Nimesh, my school buddy, is one of them. We compete and keep score in everything, from chess to tennis and everything in between, except the number of women we score with.
Somehow the pre-race arrangements seem a little more chaotic than usual. The security check takes much longer and the demarcations between different sections (the fastest runners get to start right ahead) are not so well-defined. A note to organizers, when you’re trying to project the Mumbai Marathon as a world-class event, you need to hire better speakers for making announcements than the ones who seem to have come on loan from the Western Railways.
Anyway, at 6 AM sharp the race is flagged-off, but it’s not until 6.15 AM that my friends and I cross the starting line. Due to my lack of training, I decide not to jog continuously, instead jog and walk through the course. This is how I’ve visualised the race in my head – 8 km in the first hour, another 8 in the second and the last 5 km in 45 minutes; that would give me a time of 2 hours 45 minutes – close enough to my best time that I achieved in my second race in 2011.
With the sun still not out as the race begins, there’s a nice cool breeze as we head on to the Bandra-Worli sea link. There are enough water stands on the course to keep oneself hydrated, though not enough mobile toilets, leaving many racers no choice but to relieve themselves wherever they find a deserted corner.
My first hour goes as per plan – 4 km in the first 30 minutes and 8 by the time the first hour comes around. I’m feeling good, but the second hour gets tougher. By the time the course hits Worli, there are plenty of Mumbaikars on the roads to cheer and support friends and strangers. They’re also generous – providing refreshments and replenishment to the athletes – water, biscuits, energy drinks, candy, sweets, fruits, lemonade all on offer for free.
The second hour is not going according to plan though; I just about manage to complete 7 km as the dreaded uphill climb on Peddar Road takes its toll. By now, my feet are killing me; I’m not out of stamina or breath, but am finding it difficult to jog anymore. I feel a cramp coming up on me during the 15th km and decide I should walk it out. My smart idea of wearing ankle-length socks (inspired by American tennis player Mardy Fish) now seems to be backfiring. What I did not factor in was that it would leave me more susceptible to shoe bites.
As we hit Marine Drive, the sun is out and blazing. It’s not Melbourne type conditions yet, but I think I could do with an ice bath later. I try to get jogging again, but my feet now seem as heavy as Serena Williams’ bust. The atmosphere on Marine Drive is quite electric; lots of music and band-baaja as several NGOs try to raise awareness for their causes. There’s one lady on the mic who is telling the runners “Just a little more push”. I’m sure she has the best intentions but by now, I’m kinda drained. I wonder if this is how women in labour, 8.5 cms dilated, must feel when the doctors tell them “Just a little more push.” Yeah lady, why don’t you try pushing that baby out of your body or carry these legs over the finishing line!
By now, I’m hoping to complete the course in less than 3 hours, but it seems tough as I can’t seem to walk any faster. I try to find ways to motivate myself. I imagine a certain long-nosed German blonde trying to encourage me instead of another bald athlete. Nothing seems to work. When I cross the finish line, its 7 minutes past the 3 hour mark.
After taking a much-needed toilet break, I sit down and think over my race. I’m happy to have completed it, but not happy with my time (my worst since my 2010 debut). I resolve to train harder and better (anything is harder and better as compared to no training) for next year.
After a heavy breakfast at the Sundance café with my friends, I head home in the afternoon, limping along with my shoes in my hands and think about this post I need to write and catching up on the Australian Open scores. Nimesh messages that he completed the course in 2 hours 44 minutes – that b@#%^*d!!
It’s the fourth year in a row he’s beaten me at the marathon (For those who care, I hold the edge in 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres and 800 metres against him). I can’t wait for the third Sunday of 2015 already. One of these years, I’m going to complete the course in 2 hours and 30 minutes and beat him as well!
